Black Eyed Peas News

In the end, it was a "good, good night" for everyone — thousands of people of all faiths rocked to "Boom Boom Pow", "I Gotta Feeling" and other songs at a Black Eyed Peas concert after the Malaysian government lifted a ban on Muslims attending.

Muslims, who make up 60 percent of Malaysia's population, were originally told to stay away from the Friday night concert because it was sponsored by beer giant Guinness. Islamic law forbids alcohol consumption.

The ban was lifted days later without explanation, but at the concert there were designated bar areas that had signs advising Muslims to stay out.

Fans cheered and applauded as the four hip-hop stars sang one hit after another including the 2009 chart-topping favorite "I Gotta Feeling" that goes: "I gotta feeling that tonight's gonna be a good night. ... That tonight's gonna be a good, good night."

Muslims, dressed in black dresses and sleeveless tops, said they came to enjoy the show — not to drink.

The ban controversy "makes us look like we are a bit of a backward country. But we are actually not," said Alia Zulkifli, a 27-year-old banker and Black Eyed Peas fan. "We came for the music."

The Black Eyed Peas said they were glad that people who "feel good about music, enjoy life" could attend the show, which marked the 250th anniversary of Guinness' flagship brewery in Dublin.

Malaysia's largest city was one of five places hosting Guinness' concerts.

"I'm so thrilled," group leader Will.i.am told reporters before the show. He said when they performed in Dubai and the Philippines, "it's Muslims, Christians, everyone" who attended.

International concerts in Malaysia have frequently drawn controversy. Shows by Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne in recent years faced protests by conservative Muslim Malaysians over immodest clothes, forcing the artists to don attire that revealed little skin.

Even Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie said she had to change her outfit to comply with government rules that require all female artists to cover from shoulders to below the knees. Fergie wore tight black pants and a dark T-shirt with pink and white imprint throughout the 90-minute show.

"Well, I have had to change my costume for tonight's show, but I mean the woman's silhouette is still there," she told reporters.

Organizers said they sold more than 12,000 tickets to pack the venue in a theme park. The audience was mainly ethnic Chinese and Indians, the country's largest minorities, together making up a third of the country's 28 million people.

Islamic rules do not apply to them but only Muslims, who can face action in Shariah courts for such offenses as drinking alcohol in public.

The Black Eyed Peas have enjoyed phenomenal success this year. The foursome has topped Billboard's Hot 100 singles charts for the past 25 consecutive weeks, the most ever by an act.

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